Promethea Moth-Dude!

One advantage to not using lawn chemicals is the random appearance of strange and beautiful creatures. Last evening, we saw a large moth in the driveway. It was a jet black stud of a Promethea Moth-Callosamia promethea. This insect had just hatched and was in the last stages of wing inflation. So beautiful. This picture is from the web and depicts a deceased individual.

Snuff Snapper? Nein! Schnupftabak-Schlender-Kanone!

A few years ago, my husband and I visited a German Restaurant in Minneapolis, MN. I was doubtful of it as german food is not my flavor fave. However, the whole experience was priceless! During our meal, we noticed the waitresses using a device on the patrons that were in a large group seated at a long table across the room. The waitresses would hold a wooden board up to a patrons face, then let a spring loaded delivery device snap up to the patrons nostrils (making a loud snapping sound). Then the group would yell, toast, and drink. Later, our waitress came over and asked if we would like to try it. This was a snuff delivery device. She insisted that we try it so we said we would if she would do it. She said, no problem, snapped the snuff up her nose, started crying and ran out of the room. We did not see her again. Needless to say, we did not try it.
Since then, I have tried to find out the name of that thing. I talked to people from Minneapolis, Germans, people who hang out in German restaurants, Google, etc. No one knew what I was talking about. It was not until we were visited by an Austrian relative that we found out the name of this snuff snapper, Schnupftabak-Schlender-Kanone.
This restaurant was fabulous for other reasons I may blog about later. The restaraunt's website is (http://www.marioskellerbar.com) Under gifts they call the thing a snuff board. This name is a bland euphemism ignoring the delivery part of it. If you find yourself in Minneapolis for any reason, make sure you visit this place!

The 3 R's, We are pretty darn good

Looking through an old book to see if I want to get rid of it. From Good Housekeeping magazine September 1989. In 1989 a typical suburban American household of 3 generated about 40 lbs of garbage weekly. Broken down as:

Polystyrene foam meat trays, cups, egg cartons, and packaging, 3%

Aluminum, 1%

Disposable diapers, 3%

Wood, textiles such as household repair debris, and old clothing, 5%

Metals such as food cans and nails, 5%

Plastic such as soda bottles and bags, 5%

Glass, 8%

Misc. mixed items and conglomerates, 10% (I assume this means packaging)

Food, 11%

Paper such as newspaper, boxes, mail, and magazines, 21%

Yard wastes and grass clippings, 23%

Wow, how wastefull these 800 households in Phoenix AZ were 20 years ago!

In comparison, we are pretty good-

We do not eat meat in the house, so no foam trays, egg cartons get recycled or given to small egg producer.

We rarely use aluminum foil at all, except when camping.

Diapers, not an issue here.

Scrap wood and textiles, all freecycled, reused, or donated.

Metals-all recycled except for a very little amount that cannot be recycled.

Plastic bottles and bags, all reused or recycled.

Glass-all recycled.

Packaging, is our biggest challenge and the bulk of our garbage.

Food, all wastes composted.

Paper, all recycled or in the case of magazines, some freecycled or given away.

Yard wastes and grass clippings, all composted or left in place to be reabsorbed.

Ms. 95 senate plate

To Ms. 95 senate plate, I saw you this am, leaving Springfield on I-72. Swerving all over both lanes, driving down the middle of the road, not signaling lane changes, and then speeding away. Later, beyond Decatur I saw you again, speeding by with your phone glued to your ear. How is it that you can drive that way, recklessly, while passing laws that us commoners have to follow? I have no idea who you are and do not give a damn, but I do know you are a living, breathing, driving, hypocrite.

It is snowing, lets go in the ditch or flip over!

Just drove from Champaign to Springfield. I made it, many did not. Interestingly, 2 dozen pickup trucks, 1 dozen suvs, 3 vans, 2 small sedans, and 1 jack knifed semi truck were all in the ditch. Also, 2 cars rammed into one another and another van flipped over. Useless damage and possible injuries. Most drivers were using common sense and driving carefully. We made it home with our bodies and vehicles intact. I will never understand why people are willing to wreck their rides and possibley injure themselves or others just so they can drive fast and recklessly through the white and slippery snow.

Retiree Rant

I have not been able to figure this one out. Our neighborhood is populated with retirees. Some do volunteer type work and what not during the week. However, I assume they have more time in general than this hard working couple. On weekends, these retirees get to it with their leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other very loud lawn equipment. This sunday morning, 9 am, someone was out with their lawnmower. Lordy- cannot we enjoy some peace on our weekends! What is wrong with a rake?

Murderous Springfield

I have always been bothered by the number of murders in this town. I did some calculations and found that the murder rate for Springfield of late is 8.585/100,000. In line with Belarus.

Cock Fighting in Springfield

Last Saturday, Nov 14 the Boy Scouts of Troop 3 were raking leaves at their host church, Douglas Ave Methodist. A red rooster showed up walking across the parking lot. It was clucking. This poor bird was a wreck, bloody defeathered back, one toe broken and flopping. We called Animal Control and they came and took the sad victim away. We had already figured out what happened to the rooster and the Animal Control person confirmed it- the rooster had been used in an illegal cock fight and lost apparently. Somehow it escaped or was dropped off, and must of heard all the raking noises and found the boy scouts and help. He had a little cracker meal before being picked up by the Animal Control.

Deer running west downtown

We were at Cafe Brio at Monroe and 6th street, at 6:20pm a large deer was going west at full speed down the sidewalk on the north side of the street. Do not know where it went after that. Darla

Lucky or unlucky, Air Force One, In and Out

Coming into town this evening, just before going downhill into Springfield on I-72, I just glimpsed Air Force One landing. After the Presidents speech, I sat out on our deck, getting colder and colder, then saw Air Force One take off, circle over our neighborhood, and head out east. I could see the tail lit up and a flag symbol. When President Clinton came to Champaign, I went to see him and Mr. Gore speak at the Assembly Hall. I saw President Clinton's Jet come in to Champaign, his badass motorcade, and then went south of town east of the airport to watch him leave. Some other people were out there and one had a police radio. We heard the Jet roaring after it slipped off the runway, trying to dislodge from the mud. We heard over the radio they were bringing in a second Jet, watched it come in, and then take off with the President. I am not one lucky enough to go to any Lincoln celebrations today, but I enjoyed seeing the big Air Force One coming and going. Darla

White girl response to Obama Inauguration

I took off Tuesday to stay at home and absorb it all in, and I am so glad I did. I only lost it when President Obama and his First Lady held hands and walked down Pennsylvainia. The tears came out with no control. Today when speaking with people about it, some wondered why I was so into it. Well, for one, my direct ancestors owned slaves, I know this is a fact. I do not feel guilty about it, I had nothing to do with it. However, I have never understood all the hate and discrimination. As a child I knew racists and KKK members in my own family. I listened to their crap all through the 70's and remember thinking what was wrong with these people? Luckily, I was raised differently.

Anyway, I enjoyed watching history being made and feeling it move across the centuries of history. Darla

The Crack is Back!

Crack Bauer that is. 24 Ai Ai Ai. This crap gives me the creeps, but I love it all the same. Mondays at 8p. on the Fox. Darla

My thoughts on Blagojevich and message to politicians

Well our gov deserves everything he gets. What an idiot! Can this be a wake up call to all the goverment players, and schemers, and corrupted people to wake up and believe it is not worth it? Wouldn't it be better to work hard, honestly, and with the best interests of your constituency leading your actions? Or would you rather be woken up in the pre dawn hours by the FBI and hauled away in handcuffs and all your taped words blathered all over for everyone to hear? I know most politicians have way bigger egos than I. Is this not enough to bring them down to earth? Darla

America turns a page and we get a crisp new Flag

Celebrated by replacing our old 9-11 flag with a new one from Flag World on South 6th street. The kind owner even took my old one for proper disposal. Darla

ai ai ai ai Yes Indeed, America moves forward

President Obama, Wow, Believe me y'all, I do not give a damn about party affiliations. I think Obama will be a fine leader for multiple reasons. Gift to America and to the World. Darla

Grrrrrr Bad F''''' Drivers everywhere

Hi everyone, Darla here, I have been very very busy the last few months, no time to let it all out. I have to drive all over Illinois, especially between Springfield and Champaign. It is unbelievable to me that so many drivers are so reckless and crazy. Tonight, while on Clear Lake, a tanker truck blazed by me at 50 mph. Farther down the road a wall with bright lights crept up to my rear bumper. I hit the gas, it was some meathead in a giant pickup hauling a trailer was speeding down Jefferson every chance he had. When the traffic cleared up, he roared off into the sunset. The cop sitting nearby didn't even notice. I know, warrantless phone taps, war, election, dog crap, death and sunshine. Everything gets to me!

I-9 debacle

My work changed overseers and the new employer requires a new I-9 form to be completed. To prove that you are qualified to work, you must show some documents. Such as a passport, active or expired, birth certificate, social security card, drivers license and you must have something from column a, or one from column b and c. No problemo me thinks, I have passport and birth certificate and drivers license, I am good to go. Oops, I cannot locate my documents. I tear the house apart looking for them. I spent over 15 hours looking for them, cried, yelled, went on, to no avail. So I trucked down to the social security office to get a card (I have never had one, my mom lost it when I was a baby). I mailed a form to the county where I was born. I worry that I will not get paid etc. I have spent more than 20 hours on this and countless other hours worrying about it!
Nothing irritates me more than having to fill this little gem out, aka the Illegal Immigrant form. I have filled them out before, like I have changed. The only reason one has to fill these out is because of criminals, scammers, terrorists, and illegal immigrants.

Society still bad, my bad thoughts

Oklahoma lawmaker says gays are worse than terrorists and Islam. www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/10/dnt.ok.lawmaker.anti.gay.kwtv
Bar advertises Wetback Wednesdays. www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/03/10/dnt.pa.bar.controversy.wtae
What kind of country is this? I swear, there are many people I do not especially like, but the worst of the worst would be Murderers, Child Rapists, Terrorists, Stupid Racists and Powerful Hypocrites. Please oh Lord, dig a giant mile deep hole in the ground and equip with a giant meat blender and chuck all the above into it. Feeling vengeful, Darla

Tornado Tragedy in the South

I am saddened by all the deaths due to tornadoes in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas etc. I wish the victims could have been more aware of the situation. The best ways to protect yourself are to be aware, pay attention, and have a good plan for shelter. One of the easiest ways to be aware in my opinion is to have a weather radio, especially a portable one with batteries. They are affordable and can be set to alarm when dangerous weather is expected or coming. They are most useful when you are asleep and can wake you up or you live in a rural area without sirens.
Some of these tornadoes came in the early morning hours when the victims were asleep, the most dangerous time. I have purchased weather radios from Radio Shack and they are available at many other locations. Darla

Lightning, Thunder, Ice=Awesome

Fabulous February weather! I drove someone from Jefferson and Veterans area to 11th and Ash area as pea sized hailstones fell while lightning sparkled and thunder roared. Just beautiful man! Better than football on tv! Darla